Wide chord fan blade

Claim 2

An energy absorbing, laminated airfoil having a tip portion, a dovetail root section, a leading edge extending from the tip portion to the root section, and a trailing edge oppositely disposed to the leading edge and extending from the tip portion to the root section, comprising: alternating layers of a metallic foil and an elastomeric layer forming a laminated composite airfoil, the metallic foil forming the first and last layers,; the dovetail root section having flank surfaces with at least one aperture extending from each flank surface through a portion of the dovetail root section; a high strength metal member disposed through each dovetail root section aperture; and a metal sheath attached to the leading edge.

Claim 3

The laminated airfoil of claim 1 wherein the metallic foil is selected from the group consisting of titanium alloys, nickel base superalloys and stainless steels.

Claim 4

The laminated airfoil of claim 2 wherein the metallic foil is a titanium alloy foil produced by superplastic forming.

Claim 5

The laminated airfoil of claim 1 wherein the elastomeric layer is selected from the group consisting of an adhesive film having a thermoplastic carrier, a modified adhesive film and a polyurethane film coated with an adhesive layer.

Claim 6

The laminated airfoil of claim 4 wherein the film of the adhesive film having a thermoplastic carrier is selected from the group consisting of HXT-440, or HXT-441.

Claim 7

The laminated airfoil of claim 4 wherein the film of the modified adhesive film is FM-300I.

Claim 8

The laminated airfoil of claim 4 wherein the adhesive layer of the polyurethane film coated with an adhesive layer is AF163-2.

Claim 9

The laminated airfoil of claim 1 wherein the high strength metal members are titanium-alloy pins.

Claim 10

The laminated airfoil of claim 1 wherein the airfoil is a wide chord fan blade for a turbine engine.

Claim 11

The laminated airfoil of claim 1 wherein the airfoil is a vane for a turbine engine.

Claim 12

An energy absorbing, laminated airfoil having a tip portion, a dovetail root section, a leading edge extending from the tip portion to the root section, and a trailing edge oppositely disposed to the leading edge and extending from the tip portion to the root section, comprising: alternating layers of a metallic foil and a polymeric composite layer forming a laminated composite airfoil, the metallic foil forming the first and last layers,; the dovetail root section having flank surfaces with at least one aperture extending from each flank surface through a portion of the dovetail root section; a high strength metal member disposed through each dovetail root section aperture; and a metal sheath attached to the leading edge.

Claim 13

An energy absorbing, laminated airfoil having a tip portion, a dovetail root section, a leading edge extending from the tip portion to the root section, and a trailing edge oppositely disposed to the leading edge and extending from the tip portion to the root section, comprising: alternating layers of a metallic foil and a polymeric composite layer forming a laminated composite airfoil, the metallic foil forming the first and last layers,; the dovetail root section having flank surfaces with at least one aperture extending from each flank surface through a portion of the dovetail root section; a high strength metal member disposed through each dovetail root section aperture; and a metal sheath attached to the leading edge.

Claim 14

The airfoil of claim 11 wherein the polymeric composite layer is a fiber embedded in a flowable resin-based matrix.

Claim 15

The laminated airfoil of claim 12 wherein the fiber of the polymeric composite layer is a carbon fiber and the matrix is selected from the group consisting of epoxy resin, Bis-maleimide resin and polycyanate resin.

Claim 16

The laminated airfoil of claim 13 wherein the polymeric composite layer is selected from the group consisting of F3900/IM-7 and 8551-7/IM-7.

Claim 17

The laminated airfoil of claim 11 wherein the metallic foil is selected from the group consisting of titanium alloy, nickel base superalloys and stainless steels.

Claim 18

The laminated airfoil of claim 11 wherein the metallic foil is a titanium alloy foil produced by superplastic forming.

Claim 19

The laminated airfoil of claim 11 wherein the high strength metal members are titanium alloy pins.

Claim 20

The laminated airfoil of claim 11 wherein the airfoil is a fan blade for a turbine engine.

Claim 21

The laminated airfoil of claim 11 wherein the airfoil is a vane for a turbine engine.

Claim 22

An energy absorbing, damped, laminated airfoil having a tip portion, a dovetail root section, a leading edge extending from the tip portion to the root section, and a trailing edge oppositely disposed to the leading edge and extending from the tip portion to the root section, comprising: alternating layers of a metallic foil, a polymeric composite layer, and an elastomeric layer, forming a laminated composite airfoil, the metallic foil forming the first and last layers, and the elastomeric layer interposed between each piece of metallic foil and polymeric composite layer; the dovetail root section having flank surfaces with at least one aperture extending from each flank surface through a portion of the dovetail root section; a high strength metal member disposed through each dovetail root section aperture; and a metal sheath attached to the leading edge.

Claim 23

An energy absorbing, damped, laminated airfoil having a tip portion, a dovetail root section, a leading edge extending from the tip portion to the root section, and a trailing edge oppositely disposed to the leading edge and extending from the tip portion to the root section, comprising: alternating layers of a metallic foil, a polymeric composite layer, and an elastomeric layer, forming a laminated composite airfoil, the metallic foil forming the first and last layers, and the elastomeric layer interposed between each piece of metallic foil and polymeric composite layer; the dovetail root section having flank surfaces with at least one aperture extending from each flank surface through a portion of the dovetail root section; a high strength metal member disposed through each dovetail root section aperture; and a metal sheath attached to the leading edge.

Claim 24

The airfoil of claim 20 wherein the polymeric composite layer is a fiber embedded in a resin-based matrix.

Claim 25

The laminated airfoil of claim 21 wherein the fiber of the polymeric composite layer is a carbon fiber and the matrix is selected from the group consisting of epoxy resin, Bis-maleimide resin and polycyanate resin.

Claim 26

The laminated airfoil of claim 20 wherein the metallic foil is selected from the group consisting of titanium alloy metals, nickel base superalloys and stainless steels.

Claim 27

The laminated airfoil of claim 20 wherein the metallic foil is a titanium alloy foil produced by superplastic forming.

Claim 28

The laminated airfoil of claim 20 wherein the high strength metal members are titanium alloy pins.

Claim 29

The laminated airfoil of claim 20 wherein the elastomeric layer is a modified adhesive film.

Claim 30

The laminated airfoil of claim 26 wherein the modified adhesive film is FM-300I.

Claim 31

The laminated airfoil of claim 20 wherein the elastomeric layer is an adhesive film having a thermoplastic carrier.

Claim 32

The laminated airfoil of claim 28 wherein the adhesive film having a thermoplastic carrier is selected from the group consisting of HXT-440 and HXT-441.

Claim 33

The laminated airfoil of claim 20 wherein the airfoil is a fan blade for a turbine engine.

Claim 34

The laminated airfoil of claim 20 wherein the airfoil is a vane for a turbine engine.